Kentucky General Assembly

Kentucky lawmaker Pamela Stevenson has launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Stevenson is the top-ranking Democrat in the Republican-led Kentucky House. Stevenson said Monday she'll help “stop therecklessness” in Washington if elected. She's running for the seat held by Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is not seeking reelection in 2026.

With final a flurry and a gallop toward the finish line the Republican dominated General Assembly overrode virtually all of Democrat Governor Andy Beshear's vetoes and handed him new legislation for consideration.

The veto period for Democratic Governor Andy Beshear is officially over and he left a lengthy to do list for lawmakers who, thanks to their supermajorities in both chambers, have the power to override his directives. They also have a couple of days to pass new bills, but with one important caveat. Before the gavel falls for the last time this year we get analysis from Laura Cullen Glasscock, the editor and publisher of the Frankfort-based Kentucky Gazette.

A Republican-backed bill touted as an attempt to bring clarity to Kentucky's near-total abortion ban was vetoed Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who said it would do the opposite by undermining the judgment of doctors while further imperiling the lives of pregnant women in emergency situations.

The Kentucky General Assembly is taking a break to allow Governor Andy Beshear time to review a stack of legislation passed during the final hours of the pre-veto period. The governor can decide to sign the bills, let them become law without his signature or issue vetoes. Some 61 bills are now up for consideration and Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock says this will be anything but light reading for Kentucky's chief executive.

Scores of bills are headed to the governor's desk after lawmakers made a final grinding push this week to wrangle votes and hammer out compromises between the House and the Senate.

The Kentucky Senate has passed House Bill 4, which bans diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in Kentucky's public universities.

This week on Capitol Chat Laura Cullen Glasscock, editor and publisher of the Frankfort-based Kentucky Gazette highlights bills currently making their way through the legislature that would require a constitutional amendment. One deals with curbing the governor's power to issue pardons, another involves the elimination of "slavery or indentured servitude" as legal punishments for crimes. They also discuss updating the verbiage for elected office oath takers. If you've ever witnessed a public swearing in ceremony in Kentucky you already know what we're talking about.

As we approach the halfway point of the 2025 legislative session Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock highlights a couple of bipartisan bills that have a chance of making it all the way to the governor's desk: House Bill 70 & House Bill 505.

Tuesday is the last day for Kentucky Senators to file bills for consideration in the current legislative session. This week on Capitol Chat Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock highlights some of the bills already filed by Fayette County area lawmakers, Democrat Reggie Thomas and Republican Steve West. Both have sponsored legislation that attempts to address Lexington's growing issue of short-term rental regulation.